The eighteenth edition of the magazine ”Mongolica” is dedicated to Lidia Grigorievna Skorodumova, an outstanding
Russian mongolist, doctor of philology, member of the Russian Union of Writers, winner of the Writers’ Union Award,
member of the Confederation of Mongolian journalists, honorary member of Mongolian Academy of Humanities,
honorary member of the ”Tugeemel” Institution. Lidia Grigorievna Skorodumova is awarded with the ”200th anniversary
of the Russian Foreign Office” medal, diplomas of ”Roszarubezhcentr” organization for the strengthening of the Russian-
Mongolian friendship, medal of the Union of Mongolian Writers ”For Great Contribution to Literature”, ”Polar star”
medal of Mongolia.

A. I. Andreev. The Materials about the Expedition Activity of P. K. Kozlov in the Archives of the Royal Geographical
Society of London — 21
The article examines the relations of one of the outstanding Russian explorers of Inner Asia, Petr Kuz’mich
Kozlov (1863—1935) and the Royal Geographical Society of London. Thanks to these contacts which lasted for
over two decades (1902—1923) and publication of his travel accounts in the Society’s Geographical Journal,
Kozlov was able to acquire world-wide renown, since the RGS was one of the most prestigious geographical societies
in Europe. His contacts with the RGS also enabled him to attract the attention of leading British and European
geographers to the activities of the Russian Geographical Society, particularly in the Inner Asian region. The
Appendix includes Kozlov’s correspondence with the RGS which consists of his eight letters addressed to the Society’s
two secretaries, John S. Keltie and Arthur R. Hinks, in the years 1902—1923.
Key words: P. K. Kozlov, N. M. Przhevalskii, E. V. Puskariova, D. Keltie, A. Hinks, Royal Geographical Society
(KGO), Russian Geographical Society (RGO), Geographical Journal, London, Khara-Khoto, Central Asia,
Mongolia, Tibet

R. M. Valeev. Missionary Oriental Studies in Kazan and studying of the Mongolian speaking Peoples (19th—the beginning
of the 20th centuries) — 30
The aim of the research consists in the objective representation of history of the missionary departments of the
Kazan Theological Academy, the study of the educational, scientific and public work of its teachers and graduates,
the analysis of scientific works on history, ethnography, language and culture of the Turkic, Finno-Ugrian
and Mongolian peoples of the Middle Volga region in Kazan in the second half of the XIX—the beginning of the
XX centuries. The Kazan Theological Academy was one of the largest religious and educational, missionary, ethnic
and political institutions in Russia and, at the same time, one of the leading centers for studying history, culture,
ethnography and language of the Turkic, Finno-Ugrian and Mongolian peoples in the second half of the
XIX—the beginning of the XX centuries.
Key words: Missionaries, Kazan Spiritual Academy, National archive, Mongolia, studying of east languages

I. V. Erofeeva. Oirat Buddist Monasteries in the Seven Rivers region (mid 17th—mid 19th centuries) — 35
The paper considers the history of formation and religious activities of the Oirats’ Buddhist monasteries in the
area of Middle and Upper Ili River and its tributaries during the first half of the XVIII century, as well as of one
particular monastery — from the 1740-ies till the middle of the XIX century. Basing on the geographical maps of
the XVIII—XX centuries and on the results of the latest field research in Semirechiye, the author for the first time
precisely ascertained the past location of those sites, their topography, dimensions and main formal features, and
revealed the important role of the Buddhist monastic complexes in the management of religious and cultural life
of the nomadic Mongol-speaking population in the Dzungar Khanate.
Key words: Dzungaria, Oirats, Tibetan Buddhism, Gelukpa, monasteries, lamas, mantras

А. V. Popov. Mongolian official Document dated back from the 19th century about the Employees hired for a fee in the
Qing state-owned Croplands — 49
The object of research in this article is the Mongolian official letter of the XIX century, which represents some
little known characteristics of the fiscal system established by the Qing Empire in the North (Halha) Mongolia.
The authors of this letter describe the means which the Mongolian local authorities tried to find in order to reduce
the fiscal burden that fell upon the population subordinate to them. Namely, instead of mobilizing their subjects to
serve as cultivators of state military fields, the Mongolian princes and officials gave preference to shift the burden
of carrying the public duties on the workers employed for a fee. The reviewed document has still not been subjected
to any research, although it was published in 1898 by G. Ts. Tsybikov in the collection of the Mongolian
official papers. This article presents a commented translation of the document on Russian and specifies the time
when it was written.
Key words: North Mongolia, Russia, the Qing Empire, administrative system, public service, state-owned
croplands, the fee paid to the workers hired to serve as cultivators of state military fields

PHILOLOGY: LITERATURE, FOLKLORE, LINGUISTICS

L. S. Dampilova. Shaman Materials in funds of the Centre of Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs of the Institute of
Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy — 62
Shaman ceremonial texts are stored in funds of the Centre of Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs of the Institute
of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibatan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
together with folklore and ethnographic materials. The shaman materials which were generally collected at the end
of XIX—the beginning of the XX centuries, include descriptions of ceremonial actions, ritual subjects, biographic
data on famous shamans and shamans-uligershins. Shaman poetic texts which were written down in different regions
of ethnic Buryatia are of special interest. The shaman myths making a world picture basis in the epos and
fairy tales are separately allocated. The legends based as on historical events, and the having mythological roots
play significant role.
Key words: shamanism, materials, tradition, text, folklore, ethnographic, ritual ceremony, myths

A. V. Zorin. A bundle of Manuscripts in Tibetan from Kalmykia on the 18th century Russian Paper kept at the IOM
RAS — 67
This paper presents some results of the study of a bundle of folios in Tibetan, Tib.970, first attested as belonging
to the Library of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1798 and then passed to the Asiatic Museum, now
IOM RAS. The main part of the folios in this bundle was originated from the Kalmykian Steppes, numerous inscriptions
in the Clear Script witnessing it. Several folios were probably added to them in St. Petersburg - it is not
unlikely that one of the manuscripts can be even traced to the acquisition of 1727, from D. G. Messerschmidt.
Russian, or European, origin of paper of the majority of manuscripts is ascertained with watermarks found on
many of them. The classification of the folios which are mostly fragments of Buddhist manuscripts is provided in
regard of their contents. It is followed with the survey of major paleographic and manuscriptological features of
the manuscripts that may prove important for the reconstruction of characteristics of the 18th century Kalmykian
culture of producing manuscripts in Tibetan.
Key words: Kalmykian manuscripts, manuscripts in Tibetan, Buddhist texts, the IOM RAS collection, paleography,
manuscriptology

I. V. Kulganek. On the Question of the Mongolian Paremias — 75
This article discusses the different approaches of the modern world of science to the study of aphorisms and
paremias. These approaches, according to the author, can be applied to the study of Mongolian proverbs and sayings.
The author believes that the Mongolian proverbs are aphoristic genre of oral folk poetry, that they are concise
rhythmical sayings that are thought or generalized conclusions moral and ethical experience of the people, often
euphemistically referring to the behavioral norms. Author interested in the problems of structure, style, semantics
Mongolian proverbs, as well as of their existence, the characteristic features and imagery. Formed style
proverbs became timeless, traditional, one of the genre characteristics of proverbs and sayings. The article expressed
the view that aphorisms are of two types - the literature (actually called aphorisms) and folklore (which
presents proverbs and sayings). Proverbs, in turn, vary depending on the subject, creation, purpose, such as communications,
imagery, etc. According to the proverb, you can create an artistic picture of the Mongolian people in
the world.
Key words: paremias, aphorisms, proverbs, sayings, triads, quatrains, Mongolian, structure, artistic features,
language, sources

O. A. Sapozhnikova. Literary tale by S. Buyannemekh — 79
Author characterizes one of the first prosaic works of modern Mongolian literature. It is called «The tale about
golden fishes, which are rushing into the distance» written by famous Mongolian author S. Buyannemekh. This
work became the big achievement of Mongolian literature of 20—30 years of XXth century and gave Mongolian
readers new literary hero.
Key words: modern Mongolian literature, literary tale, revolution, new literary hero

THE ARCHIVES OF ORIENTALISTS

T. I. Yusupova. “A big Collaboration with Mongolia is planned”: to the History of the Foundation of the Mongolian
Commission under the USSR's Government — 82
The article describes the events that preceded the foundation of the Commission for the scientific study of
Mongolia under the patronage of the Council of the People’s Commissars of the USSR in March, 1925. Particular
attention is paid to the special government Сommission for the review of preliminary reports of P. K. Kozlov's
expedition that decided at its meeting to organize a large-scale study of Mongolia by the Russian Academy of Sciences
/ USSR Academy of Sciences. A verbatim report of this session's discussion part, which allows to understand
the motivation of the scientific community and the government in deciding on the study of Mongolia, is included
as an appendix.
Key words: study of Mongolia, a government commission, S. F. Oldenburg, P. K. Kozlov’s Mongolian-
Tibetan expedition, N. P. Gorbunov

On September 25–26, 2017, the International conference Armenia and the Middle East: Written Heritage from Manuscripts to the Internet dedicated to the memory of Karen N. Yuzbashyan (1927–2009) will be held in St. Petersburg.